Metro News & Reviews

Bike Week LA begins soon; many events planned

Bike Week LA begins May 17 — a week from Monday. Here’s the press release from Metro with info on the wide array of activities during the week:

CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES FOR THOSE WHO PLEDGE TO RIDE THEIR BIKE TO WORK
METRO PROMOTES ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES DURING “BIKE WEEK LA” INCLUDING FREE TRANSIT ON BIKE TO WORK DAY, DOWNTOWN BIKE RIDE

Vacations, folding bikes and other prizes plus a downtown Los Angeles bike ride, bike blessings and free rides on public transit for bicyclists on Bike to Work Day, May 20, will be offered as incentives for commuters to park their cars and hop on a bike during Bike Week LA starting Monday, May 17.

Go to www.metro.net/biketowork for details on the various events. Metro also will be offering a chance to win several prizes such as a two-night stay for two at the Red Mountain Resort & Spa in St. George, Utah, a folding bike from REI, and more prizes to those who pledge to bike to work on Bike to Work Day Thursday, May 20. Go online at www.metro.net/biketowork or call (213) 922-2811 or stop by one of the pit stop locations that day where cyclists can get refreshments, free giveaways and information.

It’s all part of an annual week-long celebration with a serious purpose — get more commuters and others in Los Angeles County to bike to work and other destinations to reduce traffic and air pollution and save energy. Today, only 1 percent of trips in the county are made by bicyclists but Metro, which has invested close to $200 million in bike facilities and programs, hopes to boost that percentage. Besides direct investment in bike related projects, the expanding network of Metro buses and trains means more cyclists can use public transit to carry them part of their trip.

Metro buses are equipped with bike racks, and bikes also can be carried on trains Metro buses On Thursday, May 20, Bike to Work Day, Metro will offer free rides to bicyclists on Metro buses and trains throughout Los Angeles County. Moreover, Beach Cities Transit, Commerce Municipal Bus Lines*, Culver CityBus, Gardena Municipal Bus Lines*, Glendale Beeline, LADOT Commuter Express and DASH, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena ARTS Bus, and Torrance Transit, also will offer free rides to bicyclists who use transit for part of their commute. Just board with a bicycle and/or bike helmet.

Cyclists also can bring their bikes on Metro Rail trains and ride free. Since Metro Rail trains may be full during weekday rush hours, Metro reserves the right to ask bicyclists to wait for the next train from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. unless trains are moving in a direction opposite the peak hour flow of commuter traffic on the Metro Blue, Green and Gold Lines.
On the Metro Red and Purple Line subway trains, bikes are not allowed in either direction during rush hours from Union Station to Wilshire/Vermont only. No other restrictions apply.

However, this summer Metro plans on lifting these restrictions on bike travel on Metro Rail once directional signs are installed to steer bikes to certain areas of the train cars where they can be safely accommodated.

On Bike to Work Day, Metro is co-hosting more than 60 bike pit stops with local organizations, inviting bicyclists to stop by for refreshments and free giveaways from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. only. For exact locations, go to www.metro.net/biketowork.

During Bike Week LA Metro will issue a new bike map detailing more than 1,200 miles of bike paths, bikeways and bike lanes in Los Angeles County. The map can be downloaded online at metro.net/biketowork. Free copies are available at any Metro Customer Center or call (213) 922-2811 and request a copy. Metro also produces helpful Metro Bike Pockets Guides in English and Spanish with information on bike safety and bicycle parking locations along the Metro Rail system, and other information.

Metro also has started a Bicycle Roundtable series to create a dialogue with the cycling community and address pertinent issues such as bike safety.

Bike safety will be highlighted during Bike Week LA. During kickoff ceremonies Monday, May 17, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck and City of Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, who also is chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Los Angeles County, will join Los Angeles City Council member Tom LaBonge, Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) General Manager and transportation agency Board member Rita Robinson, Jennifer Klausner, Executive Director Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) and Metro CEO Art Leahy at a bike safety event at LAPD headquarters.

Metro and the Bicycle Coalition will host a “Bike to Work Downtown L.A. Ride” Wednesday, May 19, to demonstrate how downtown workers coming from all areas of Los Angeles County can easily access some of the most prominent area work sites, Metro Rail stations, civic and entertainment centers by bicycle. Riders will congregate at the Olvera Street Kiosk area starting at 8 a.m. and will depart at 8:30 a.m. for a short ride through downtown.

Metro also is supporting other events including the annual interfaith Blessing of the Bicycles at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 18. For more information, visit www.goodsam.org.